Luminous display device

ABSTRACT

A display device adapted to be illuminated is disclosed herein having a reflective back member for carrying a spirally configured tube containing a gas such as Neon. Electrodes communicate the gas tube with a suitable power source for ignition purposes so that the ignited gas will produce a luminous glow. The devices are arranged in rows and columns and electrically couple together so as to selectively ignite a selected plurality of devices whereby a meaningful pattern is displayed, such as a letter or number, for example.

AttorneyRoger A. Marts ABSTRACT: A display device adapted to beilluminated is 315,313 disclosed herein having a reflective back memberfor carrying 6 340/343 a spirally configured tube containing a gas suchas Neon. Electrodes communicate the gas tube with a suitable powersource 1105b 41/00 for ignition purposes so that the lgmted gas Wlllproduce a lu- 240/5l.12,

mlnous glow. The devices are arranged m rows and columns andelectrically couple together so as to selectively ignite a 344 selectedplurality of devices whereby a meaningful pattern is displayed, such asa letter or number, for example.

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[54] LUMINOUS DISPLAY DEVICE 7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

240/51.l2, 313/109.5, 313/113, 340/33 [51] Int.

[50] Field of 313/l,109.5, 113, 220; 315/169, 313; 340/324 R,

PATENTED new 1971 LUMINOUS DISPLAY DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.Field of the Invention This invention relates to light reflectingdisplay devices, signs, signals and the like. The invention is includedin the class of inventions commonly referred to as visual displaydevices and, more particularly, to a novel display device having unusualand distinctive aesthetic characteristics as well as being especiallynoticeable so as to attract the visual attention of an observer.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the display industry, it has been alongstanding problem to devise an appealing visual device, such as asign or display board, that is not only distinctive from an aestheticpoint of view but which is capable of attracting or diverting the visualattention of observers and persons passing the display device for avariety of reasons and purposes. Such a display device or sign may beemployed for advertising purposes or identifying a businessestablishment, such as a restaurant or office building, for example.Although some conventional static display devices have been used forthese purposes, certain problems and difficulties have been encounteredwhich are due primarily to the fact that expensive lens systems areoften employed to obtain startling optical effects and sometimes, suchsystems are employed in conjunction with elaborate lighting means toincrease the visual appeal of the conventional display device.Obviously, such optical and lighting systems, whether used individuallyor in combination, are relatively costly to fabricate, install andmaintain.

Furthermore, in some instances, it is highly desirable to enhance theoverall effect of the display device by creating the illusion ofmovement by employing a variety of colors, not only in identifiablesolid portions of the color spectrum but deriving an appealing fuse ofcolors as well. Conventional display apparatus offering such coloreffects are derived by using a rotatable disc or wheel having aplurality of multicolored segments thereon which are sequentially drivenpast the light source. In other instances, the effect of the movement isachieved by utilizing a variety of masks or interfering discs or plateswhich, when moved relative to each other, cause the displacement oralteration of transmitted light so that an optical illusion portrayingmovement is achieved. Conventional display apparatus, as briefly notedabove, generally requires a high level of standby power, drivingmechanisms and precise layout of the optical system during fabrication.

Still another of the conventional attention-attracting means is themoving message sign which incorporates a plurality of incandescentbulbs. Obviously, the cost of replacing these bulbs on a large sign isconsiderable and, as an ancillary problem, the expense for power isenormous. Moving message signs have also attempted to use neon tubesegments to create the letters and numbers. However, the neonconfiguration is poor because it is very thin and the readability isimpaired by the jumpiness" when moving from one letter to the next. Byemploying a single neon tube segment for a character, the overallconfiguration is very limited since each character must be speciallybuilt or configured for its specific need and presentation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The problems and difficulties encountered byconventional display apparatus and moving sign devices are obviated bythe device of the present invention which provides, in one embodimentthereof, a gas-filled tube configured in a spiral shape which is carriedon the front face of a reflective backing member. The ends of the tubeare provided with suitable electrodes so that the gas contained orenclosed by the tube may be communicated with an exterior power sourceremotely located from the sign. The spirally configured gas-filled tubepresents a relatively tight coil and has a diameter substantially equalto the diameter of the reflective backing member. A plurality of thedevices are mounted on a back plate so as to present a plurality of rowsand columns of the devices. By selectively igniting a plurality of thedevices, individual characters, such as numbers or letters, may beilluminated so as to stand out from the background.

By such a construction, a static display device is formed whereby lightsupplied by gaseous illumination is reflected by the reflective surfaceof the backing member so as to diffuse and redirect the light in such afashion that the light is reflected in a distinctive and appealingmanner. Particularly, the light reflected and dispersed by thereflective surface of the backing means is greatly altered and diffused.A moving message is readily accommodated by the apparatus whenconnecting each of the devices to a controlled panel or controllerwhereby selected ones of the devices may be illuminated according to aprogram. When this is achieved, there is a decided lack of jumpiness asis nonnally noticed when employing conventional neon tube signs as notedabove.

Therefore, it is among the primary objects of the present invention toprovide a display device or sign including in its display area lettersor characters which possess a high degree of visibility whether viewedin daylight or illuminated by the various artificial lighting meansheretofore employed or proposed for illuminating signs.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a sign letteror character apparatus that possesses to an extraordinary degree, theability to reflect as diffused light rays, the light that impinges uponit from a spirally configured neon tube light source and is further soconstructed that such reflected light serves to make the letter orcharacter visible when viewed by an observer from a wide angle withrespect to the front of the sign.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide in aluminous sign an illuminating means of the gas-filled or socalled neontube type in association with a novel form of light reflecting surfacewhich is adapted, when the sign is being illuminated at night by meansof the light emitted from the neon tube, to collect and reflect in adiffused form, a relatively large portion of the light rays emitted fromsuch tube, and is further adapted, when exposed under daylightconditions when the neon tube is unlighted, to collect and reflect thelight rays of direct or indirect sunlight in diffused form in such a wayand to such a degree as to render unnoticeable or at least to minimize,the undesired effects of the outline of the neon tube above the signletters or characters.

It is further object of the present invention to produce a luminous signwherein illuminating means, substantially in view of the observer, areso associated with a novel reflecting surface as to illuminate the sameand create a particularly pleasing diffused lighting effect upon thereflecting surface while leaving the face of the sign area fully exposedfor illumination by sunlight in the daytime.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The features of the present inventionwhich are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in theappended claims. The present invention both as to its organization andmanner of operation, together with further objects and advantagesthereof, may best be understood by reference to the followingdescription, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view incorporating the luminous displaydevice of the present invention including a plurality of individualluminous display devices;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the display device asused in the arrangement of rows and columns shown in FIG. I; and

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the individual displaydevices shown in FIG. 2 as taken in the direction of arrows 3-3 thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1 of thedrawings, a sign apparatus is illustrated in the direction of arrowwhich includes a backboard 11 for mounting a plurality of individualdisplay devices 12 in an arrangement of parallel rows 13 and parallelcolumns 14 extending across the exposed surface of the baseplate 11. Inaddition to the rows 13, a plurality of columns as indicated in theplane of numeral 14, are arranged in parallel columns extending from thebottom of the sign to the top of the sign. As indicated bycrosshatching, the majority of the individual display devices 12 are notilluminated; however, as indicated by a lack of the crosshatching, otherselected display devices are illuminated so as to define meaningfulletters and characters. In the present instance, the word SIGN isportrayed by illuminated devices. By properly programming the pluralityof individual display devices, the selected ones of the devices intendedto portray a message may be repeatedly turned ON and OFF so as toattract the attention of the casual observer. In other instances, acontroller or programmer may be coupled to the plurality of individualdisplay devices so as to automatically control the illumination or lackthereof of selected ones of the display devices whereby a moving messagemay be created travelling across the face of the apparatus I0.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the apparatus includes aplurality of individual display devices [2 which take the form of aspirally configured gas-filled tube 15 which is mounted on a reflectingsurface 16 of a backing member 17. The backing member may be readilybonded or secured to the exposed surface of the backboard 11 by anysuitable means. However, it is to be noted that the backing members 17touch one another for a given row and column so that the adjacent spiraltubes are intentionally located close together. Also, the diameter ofeach of the respective backing plates or members 17 are substantiallyequal to the diameter of the spiral tube IS. The spiral tube 15 isformed so that the coils are relatively close together and the overallcoil tube is flat on its opposite sides. Although the tube is round, byflat, it is meant that the coil will lie against the backing surface 16so that all coils of the spiral will touch. The coils of the spiral tubemay be fixedly carried on the reflecting surface 16 of the backingmember 17 by any suitable means, such as adhesive, bonding agent orother securement means. Also, if desired, the reflective surface 16 maybe somewhat contoured as in a concave as shown by the two uppermostreflective surfaces in FIG. 3 manner so that the coiled tube 15 setswithin the outline of the concave or depressed surface. When in thisconfiguration, the reflective surface and backing member issubstantially cuplike in cross section so as to diffuse light raysimpinging thereagainst.

The opposite end of the coil as indicated by numerals l8 and I9 aresuitably provided with sealed electrodes that pass through respectiveholes in the back member I7 and backplate 11 where communication is madewith a suitable power source and controller 20 as shown in FIG. 3. Also,in FIG. 3, it can be seen that the coiled gas-filled tube 15 is carriedin a secured fashion on the reflecting surface 16 of the backing member17 which, in turn, is fixedly secured to the exposed face of the backingplate 11. The plurality of electrodes pass through the respectivealigned apertures in the backing plate and the backing members so thatproper wires and cabling may be connected from the electrodes to thepower source and controller 120. The power source and controller 20 maybe remotely located from the sign and may be suitably operated bypushbuttons, switches, relays or other automatic sequencing equipmentfor effecting a moving message or flashing message as previouslydiscussed.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shownand described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art thatchanges and modifications may be made without departing from thisinvention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in theappended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fallwithin the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A luminous display device comprising:

a length of gas-filled tube formed in a spiral configuration so that oneend terminates at the center and the other end terminates at the outerconvolution;

a backing member having a reflecting surface fixedly supporting saidspiral configurated tube thereon;

said spiral tube having a diameter substantially equal to the diameterof said backing member;

a baseboard fixedly mounting said backing member thereon;

said backing member and said baseboard being formed with aligned holes;

an electrode carried on each end of said tube projecting through saidaligned holes; and

a plurality of said spiral tube mounted backing members fixedly mountedon the same side surface of said baseboard and arranged in parallel rowsand parallel columns.

2. The invention as defined in claim I including a power source andcontroller means operable coupled to each of said electrodes forremotely energizing said gasfilled tubes in accordance with apredetermined program.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said spiral configuredtube includes a plurality of closely spaced-apart coils progressivelyincreasing in diameter.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein the opposite sides ofsaid spirally configured tube are substantially flat and parallel.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said reflective surfaceis slightly concave so as to diffuse light rays impinging thereagainstas emanating from said gas-filled tube.

6. The invention as defined in claim I including means operablyconnected to said gas-filled tube for selectively energizing the gastherein so as to initiate and sustain illumination therefrom.

7. The invention as defined in claim 1 including a plurality of saidtubes mounted on a plurality of reflective surfaces in close proximityso as to provide a mosaic pattern.

1. A luminous display device comprising: a length of gas-filled tubeformed in a spiral configuration so that one end terminates at thecenter and the other end terminates at the outer convolution; a backingmember having a reflecting surface fixedly supporting said spiralconfigurated tube thereon; said spiral tube having a diametersubstantially equal to the diameter of said backing member; a baseboardfixedly mounting said backing member thereon; said backing member andsaid baseboard being formed with aligned holes; an electrode carried oneach end of said tube projecting through said aligned holes; and aplurality of said spiral tube mounted backing members fixedly mounted onthe same side surface of said baseboard and arranged in parallel rowsand parallel columns.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1 including apower source and controller means operable coupled to each of saidelectrodes for remotely energizing said gas-filled tubes in accordancewith a predetermined program.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 1wherein said spiral configured tube includes a plurality of closelyspaced-apart coils progressively increasing in diameter.
 4. Theinvention as defined in claim 3 wherein the opposite sides of saidspirally configured tube are substantially flat and parallel.
 5. Theinvention as defined in claim 1 wherein said reflective surface isslightly concave so as to diffuse light rays impinging thereagainst asemanating from said gas-filled tube.
 6. The invention as defined inclaim 1 including means operably connected to said gas-filled tube forselectively energizing the gas therein so as to initiate and sustainillumination therefrom.
 7. The invention as defined in claim 1 includinga plurality of said tubes mounted on a plurality of reflective surfacesin close proximity so as to provide a mosaic pattern.